Thank You from Second Half
January 25, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Next week will mark the one-year birthday of Second Half, our place to tell your high school sports stories.
And I thank you for helping us to such a great start.
We knew what we hoped to accomplish starting this site a year ago, but we've learned quite a bit during a relatively short time. Although we continue to pursue the mission of being home of the state’s best high school stories and a daily stop for fans, we’ll continue to experiment to figure out what you'd most like to see and how best we can continue to pass along the great things happening in MHSAA athletics.
A few things to call to your attention as we move ahead:
- First and foremost, we strive to tell your stories – hoping to hit every sport and all regions of our state – and have some intriguing ones coming up as we get into the second half of the winter season. Stay tuned.
- Second Half is the home for the “Battle of the Fans II.” We have visits to Buchanan and Vandercook Lake next week, followed by Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard and Zeeland East the week after. We’ll announce the winner Feb. 22. All will be found here first.
- We've revamped our video page (see menu across the top of this screen) and will be adding more videos more regularly in the year to come.
- After a brief hiatus, we’ll next week bring back “High 5s” featuring two athletes and a team that have done great things this season.
- What you’re reading now is the first of a weekly “First Pitch” blog that will allow us to post more of the quick hits we run across in our regular travels. Make sure to continue checking out the twice-weekly blog by Executive Director Jack Roberts, as well as the Viewpoints and SAC Sound-Offs supplied regularly by our friends from the Michigan State University Institute for the Study of Youth Sports and the members of our Student Advisory Council, respectively.
- We began providing in-depth statewide coverage – both previewing and then postgame reporting – of our Finals in every sport this fall, and hope to become your first and fastest source for the stories behind our championships.
We’re always looking for ideas both for stories or any other features you’d like to see – and feel free to send them directly to me at [email protected].
And again, thank you again for coming to our site today. We look forward to seeing you more in the year to come.
Flashback 100: Leland Career Helps Set Stage for Glass' International Stardom
November 15, 2024
Alisha Glass has accomplished nearly everything there is to achieve on the volleyball court.
A standout at Leland High School, she graduated in 2006 as a four-time first-team all-state selection and set MHSAA records for career kills (3,584) and aces (937). She also recorded 680 blocks, a national record at the time. Glass was the driving force behind Leland's 2006 Class D championship team, and her remarkable list of achievements continued to grow after high school.
At Penn State, Glass helped lead the Nittany Lions to three consecutive NCAA championships from 2007 to 2009. During her four years, Penn State posted an incredible 142-5 record, with an astonishing 102-match winning streak. Glass earned three All-America honors during her time with the team.
Her success didn’t stop at the collegiate level. Glass went on to win a gold medal at the 2014 World Championships and a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she was named the tournament's "Best Setter." She has been named USA Volleyball's Female Indoor Athlete of the Year twice (2013, 2014).
After coaching two seasons at Stanford, Glass now plays professionally for the Vegas Thrill in the Pro Volleyball Federation, continuing her legacy of excellence in the sport.
Previous "Flashback 100" Features
Nov. 8: Future Baseball Pro Led Escanaba's Legendary Football Title Run - Read
Nov. 1: Michigan High School Baseball Trio Provide World Series Voices - Read
Oct. 25: Before Leading Free World, Ford Starred for Champion GR South - Read
Oct. 18: Mercy Links Legend Becomes World Golf Hall of Famer - Read
Oct. 11: Fisher Races to Finals Stardom on Way to U.S. Olympic First - Read
Oct. 4: Lalas Leaves High School Legacies on Ice & Pitch - Read
Sept. 27: Tamer's History-Making Run Starts in Dexter, Continues to Paris - Read
Sept. 20: Todd Martin’s Road to Greatness Starts at East Lansing - Read
Sept. 13: James Earl Jones, Dickson High Hoops to Hollywood Legend - Read
Sept. 6: Pioneers' Unstoppable Streak Stretches 9 Seasons - Read
Aug. 30: Detroit dePorres Rushes to 1995 Class CC Football Championship - Read
PHOTOS (Top) At left, Leland's Alisha Glass celebrates with her teammates during the 2006 MHSAA Finals; at right, Glass speaks during the MHSAA Women In Sports Leadership Conference in 2018. (MHSAA archives.)